Architectural Project Manager

PRIMER; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Primer is expanding with new campuses and seeks an experienced architectural project manager to drive site feasibility, permitting, and FF&E for multi-site rollouts. You will lead code analysis, zoning reviews, traffic studies, and space programming before leases are signed, ensuring Primer standards are applied from day one.

You will manage building permits, fire life safety, ADA, and zoning variances, coordinating engineers and inspectors across jurisdictions while keeping schedules intact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in architectural project management, interior design, or similar with ownership from design through construction.
• Experience building standards or prototypes for multi-location rollout is a big plus.
• Background in spaces where physical space matters (schools, retail, hospitality).
• Deep knowledge of codes, ADA, fire life safety, zoning, and permitting across jurisdictions.
• Fluency in 3D Modeling Software and Adobe tools; familiarity with project management tools like Asana.

Responsibilities

• Site feasibility and pre-construction: run numbers, lead code analysis, zoning reviews, traffic studies, test fits, and space programming.
• Permitting and project management: manage permits, coordinate civil engineers and inspectors, juggle multiple projects without missing deadlines.
• FF&E and product specification: research and spec furniture, equipment, and branded materials; build vendor lists and catalogues; identify value engineering opportunities.

Skills

3D Modeling Software

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe InDesign

Autodesk Revit

Bluebeam

Asana

Tools

Asana

Job description

About Primer

Primer is a growing network of K–8 schools restoring the timeless foundations of American education. Inspired by the original teaching primers that shaped a nation of readers, thinkers, and builders, our schools begin with what has always worked, and build for what lies ahead. Close-knit learning environments. Skilled educators. A culture that takes kids seriously as learners and leaders.

Primers shaped the first 200 years of American children. Primer will ready them for the next.

About the Role

Every new Primer campus starts as an empty building in a city where we've never operated. Someone has to turn it into a school fast: pass code, fit the budget, and feel like Primer the moment a kid walks in. That's you. This isn't a support role bolted onto real estate. The pace we open campuses at depends on how fast and how well you can run this process, and the standards you set here get reused at every campus after it.

What you'll do

• Site feasibility and pre-construction

  • Before Primer signs a lease, you've already run the numbers. You'll lead code analysis and zoning review, coordinate traffic and parking studies, run test fits and space programming, and make the go/no-go call on new sites. You'll also build the diligence playbook, so the next site evaluation takes days, not weeks.

• Permitting and project management

  • You'll manage permitting across jurisdictions: building permits, fire life safety, ADA, zoning variances, change of use. You'll run the civil engineers, FLS specialists, and local architects of record on each project, and you'll know the code officials and inspectors in each city well enough that they pick up when you call. You'll juggle several projects at different stages without dropping a deadline.

• FF&E and product specification

  • You'll research and spec the furniture, equipment, and branded materials that go into every Primer campus. You'll build a vendor list and product catalog other teams can order from. And you'll find the value engineering wins that save money without cutting corners on the student experience.

What we're looking for

• 5+ years in architectural project management, interior design, or something close, with real ownership from design through construction

• Experience building design standards or prototypes for multi-location rollout (a big plus)

• Background in schools, retail, or hospitality, anywhere physical space matters to the people using it

• Deep knowledge of building codes, ADA, fire life safety, zoning, and permitting across multiple jurisdictions

• Fluency in 3D Modeling Software, Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe InDesign, Autodesk Revit, Bluebeam, or equivalent, plus comfort with project management tools (Asana)

• You'll be producing the standards and playbooks other people build from

• The ability to run multiple projects and vendors at once without losing a thread

Why this role may not be a fit

• You want to design one beautiful building and live in it for a year. This role moves fast across many sites at once, and nothing sits still long enough for that kind of depth.

• You'd rather hand off permitting and consultant management to someone else. Here, you're the one chasing the inspector and keeping the civil engineer on schedule.

• You need a finished playbook to work from. Part of the job is building that playbook as you go, so some of it will be genuinely undefined when you start.

Primer is a mission-first company. We believe our mission is the highest-leverage way we can create positive change. In service of that, we keep work centered on mission execution and avoid social or political activism at work that’s unrelated to the mission. If that energizes you, we'd love to see you apply.